Wednesday, 2 September 2026

 A Blackstone Edge circuit from Hollingworth Lake South Pennines 10.5miles 1500ft

After parking at the visitor centre I took a short walk along the lakeside with the M62 to the south....
....before heading east with Blackstone Edge on the horizon
The early morning mist was lingering in the valley....
....just before the sun came up
Looking north to the wind farm on Shore Moor, actually looking quite attractive through the cloud!
....and again
Looking down the Roman road to Littleborough....
....the road passes the Aiggin Stone.....
....with its explanation
Now on Blackstone edge looking down to Hollingworth lake where I was parked....
....and further along the edge is the summit trig point at 421ft
Chatburn reservoir in the Calder valley
Calderbrook
The Pennine Way follows Blackstone Edge and has been greatly improved with this flagging across the bogs....!
....as far as M62 motorway at Junction 22  at its summit....
....and again
The Pennine Way has its very own stylish footbridge...
....and again
Looking west downhill with lorries struggling to the summit
Looking back as I started the descent towards Hollingworth....
....and again....
....with the heather in full bloom
Back on the side of the lake somewhat shrunk after our long dry spell
Finally back at the very modern visitor centre where I was parked.
I had intended going to South Tynedale in the North Pennines, but after a delay setting off this walk was the result! No regrets however as this was a certainly a Grand Day Out
My thanks to anyone who has sponsored Mark as he sets off next week to walk the Camino de Santiago to raise funds for our Charity the Rwanda Group Trust.
He can still be sponsored at:






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Tuesday, 25 August 2026

 Keswick to Legburthwaite 

via Castle Head, Derwent water, Lodore falls, Watendlath valley, High Seat, & Goat Crag.

13 miles 2900ft

Having left the bus just outside Keswick I walked down to Castle Head. At only 531ft it still affords some of the best views of Derwentwater and beyond
Looking south to Castle crag with Great End behind....
....an west to Causey pike....
....and hazy Grisedale pike....
....and the ever popular Cat Bells
Now looking north west over Keswick to Bassenthwaite....
....and Nicol End marina
I then continued along the lakeside path....
....passing the bench with the view down the lake....
....and zooming in from there to Castle crag & Great End again
Next came Calf close bay...
....before continuing to....
....the lower Lodore falls
A zig zag path climbs up from there to....
....the bridge over  Watendlath beck where it becomes the Lodore falls
I then began the pathless direct climb up High Seat as described in a walking book I'd read recently.....Never Again!!!!! It was an absolute brute of a pathless climb through deep heather and bracken. It's only virtue being the views across Watendlath valley....
....to such as here with Grange fell
After a long and exhausting climb I arrived at the summit 1995ft
Looking north to Derwentwater & Bassenthwaite
I then continued along the ridge towards Bleaberry fell... 
.....looking to Blencthra, but descided to miss out the summit and descend to Goat crag which I'd once climbed as as described by Wainwright....  
....that was my 2nd bad descison of the day! I wasted over an hour and a great deal of energy looking for the path, and this certainly wasn't it! 
I finally made it down to Shoulthwaite beck close to where I was parked, with a wistful look back at Goat Crag!!!!
A long day of contrasts. I'd been held up by a crash on the M6 for 45 minutes getting here and another 45 minutes on the way home by road works.
The walk as far as Watendlath was wonderful, but after that............



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Wednesday, 19 August 2026

 Tebay to Shap via Shap Wells

13.5miles 1250ft

The river Lune passing under the west coast mainline railway at Tebay
Looking behind me to the east before climbing....
....to Nan hill with a view to a good's train heading north on the mainline with the M6 motorway behind
I was surprised to see this crucifix nailed to a tree my the side of the path....
.....I passed through a little gate to find this engraving
"Mark & Shelley Bainbridge"
The farmer was obviously happy with his winter silage supply!
The route continued beside the attractive Birk beck....
....with a view looking up to Coal Pit hill
Now crossing Birk beck to descend to Shap Wells....
....and the Shap Wells hotel....
There's a very good viewing area in grounds for seeing Red Squirrels but they were too quick for me to get a photo.
'Honestly'.....!
This is the Shap summit on the railway line where the extra engine in the day's of steam trains, was uncoupled from the train to descend and assist the next train
Soon after I passed though Shap quarry....
....and again....
....and it's associated reservoirs as I continued descending to.....
....the Lowther valley walking the rest of the way following the river Lowther....
....and stopping for lunch on its bank
A couple or so miles futher on I crossed the stepping stones that lead up to the village of Keld....
....with a view west to the Eastern lakeland fells....
....before finally arriving at Crown Inn on the main street for my lift back to Tebay 
It had been a poor forecast for walking this week hence this low level walk. However it did stay fine and wasn't a bad day at all. The walk also had plenty of interest.

I'm a trustee of a little registered charity that helps the poorest of the poor through some trusted friends in Rwanda. We have a website at:
www.rwandagrouptrust.org where there is more info about the charity and how to donate.

Also one of our trustees Clare & her brother David are taking part in a Triathlon this weekend to raise funds for the charity. If you are a regular reader of my blog it would be greatly appreciated if you could help the poorest of the poor by sponsoring her on Just Giving at:



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